According to my sister, I’m a crazy man. Of course, I think she’s crazy as well. We get along fine. For the past 15 years I’ve lived, laughed, and loved in the Last Frontier of Alaska. To set the record straight I don’t live in an igloo (at least not in summer) and we do have four seasons (June, July, August, and winter). It’s dark and cold in winter; it’s light 24/7 in summer. One gets used to it or one moves back to the nightmare that is the contiguous 48 states. Those roads and the airplanes go both directions.

I came here in January of 1981 courtesy of Uncle Sam’s Traveling Air Circus. Three weeks later I was requesting an assignment to Alaska and, in typical government fashion, they sent me to Europe instead. Mind you, I wouldn’t trade my 10 or so years there for anything. Man, I had FUN! I finally got my request after 14 years and in 1995, with 4 years left to reach retirement, I got a 4 year assignment to Eielson AFB. Got here, tossed the boxes my stereo and TV came in, and put down roots once the ground thawed. I’ve now lived here longer than anywhere else in my half century on earth.

I am a radical, by the current administration’s criteria. I’m a conservative , a veteran , a gun owner, all by choice, and I vote. I believe you’re entitled to every damn dime you make, government should be seen and not heard, and that everything you need to know about life its ownself you learned in kindergarten. (Put away your toys, play nice with others,and be polite.) I fully believe that you play the game to win and that the other guy deserves the respect of your best game regardless, and that ,win or lose, you do it graciously. I feel there is a time for talk and sometimes that time runs out. War is always an option, hellish and undesirable as it may be, and it’s all about blowing things up, breaking things, and making the other poor bastard die for his country. I thank God every day there are men and women willing to meet that challenge head on and do so with great ability and panache. I believe you should do your job, do it well, and be able to do your coworker’s just as well.

I think if the founding fathers were able to define the basic tenets of this great nation in two documents totalling five pages we really don’t need 2000 pages to reform health care.

I believe your children are your responsibility. Not the teacher’s, not the flight attendant’s, not the state’s, not your parent’s. If you’re going to take them out in public, at least teach them common decency before doing so. If my dog behaves better in public than your children, we have a problem. Having said that, I also think kids need a chance to get banged up a bit while playing, that they should learn not everyone makes the team and they shouldn’t get rewarded for just showing up.

My posts are totally my own opinion and I take full responsibility for the content. I’ll credit those I borrow from, so if you take exception to any of those, see the originator. If I piss you off, I’ll apologize in advance here but you’re going to have to deal with it. If I make you pause and consider, I’ve done my part and the world may be a better place.

Having said all that, as Alice Cooper said so well: Welcome to my nightmare. I hope our journey together is a good one and that you have a bit of fun along the way. Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride…I know I will.